ALLOA'S Championship status and Peter Grant's managerial reign came to an end on Friday with a victory over Dunfermline.

With Alloa's relegation already confirmed and the Pars's play-off position secured, the match was a dead rubber for both teams but Alloa still performed with grit, determination and character to send Grant off with three points.

What will annoy fans of the Wasps is that Friday night's performance was not a fluke or a one-off, it was a solid display of the style the team have played with all season.

The difference between Friday night's win and so many disappointing results throughout the season is that those defeats or costly draws featured poor decision making and, at times, comical defensive errors.

Friday night was a perfect blend of dogged defending and great attacking play. Alloa won the game 1-0, but Innes Cameron hit the woodwork twice.

Admittedly, both teams had nothing to play for, but Alloa still dominated the match and should have won by more.

Alloa started strongly, enjoying the ball and showing character in their challenges. Their first chance of the match fell to Lucas Williamson, but he couldn't hit the target. Scott Taggart's cross was cleared towards the back post and dropped from the sky onto Williamson's boot. He had time to watch the ball fall and could have taken a touch but he hit it first time and it went over the bar.

Innes Murray and Taggart would then both try their luck with free-kicks; Murray's effort, attempting to catch the keeper off-guard, was ambitious but could not trouble Cammy Gill. Taggart's effort was better but still off target.

Dunfermline took some initiative and looked to trouble Neil Parry. Euan Henderson, on loan from Celtic, delivered a great corner to the back post but Ewan Murray, unmarked, couldn't make it count.

Henderson then fired a shot at Parry and the keeper made a great save. A loose ball was collected by Kerr McInroy and he drove towards goal, launching a dangerous shot just past the post.

As Alloa composed themselves, they began to play more, with Stefan Scougall once again showcasing his ability. Williamson and Taggart continuously pushed forward and the latter delivered a cross that was agonisingly out of reach for Cameron.

Henderson played a great through ball for former Wasp Kevin O'Hara but his left-footed effort was blocked by Parry's legs.

The second half began with a great chance for Dunfermline, McManus' effort going just wide.

Seconds later, Alloa struck the woodwork for the first time. Nicky Jamieson made a great interception and passed to Taggart, who switched to Williamson. He passed to Murray who found Scougall. Scougall was halted but the ball fell to Cameron and he found half a yard to rifle a shot towards goal. Gill had no chance and was saved by the frame of the goal. Cameron chased the rebound and Alloa won a corner.

While Dunfermline were preparing, Alloa had already taken it. Murray played short to Kevin Cawley, who gave the ball back to Murray. His low cross to the near post was given the slightest of touches by Liam Dick and whatever he got on the ball was enough to take it past Gill.

Another good opportunity fell Alloa's way minutes later. Playing out from the back, Cawley collected the ball and played a switch to Taggart. The defender dropped his shoulder and got past his man before delivering the cross. Cameron got his head to it but could only find the roof of the net.

Dick, the scorer at one end, then showed his defensive awareness with a goal-line clearance as Dunfermline looked to level the score.

Cameron would once again hit the woodwork with a header from Williamson's looping cross. Dunfermline had chances of their own but couldn't convert: Lewis McCann found the run of Declan McManus but he lost his footing as Parry rushed out to collect the ball.

Substitute Lee Connelly almost repeated his wonder strike against Queen of the South with another terrific shot that forced Gill into another great save.

For all of Alloa's superb attacking play, they showed a defensive solidness that has been missing for most of the season. Aside from a stray pass by Dick that allowed Dunfermline to break, the defensive performance was assured, evidenced by a handful of Alloa bodies throwing themselves in front of a shot with minutes remaining, or Taggart blocking Scott Banks' shot after he got the better of Williamson.

In the end, the result didn't matter, but it felt fitting that Alloa performed like this for Grant's last match. He's been honest in his belief the team can beat anyone, and they proved that on Friday night.

For now, their status as a Championship team is over. League One awaits.

ALLOA: Parry, Taggart, Jamieson, Graham, Dick, Williamson, Grant, Murray (Connelly), Cawley, Scougall, Cameron. UNUSED SUBS: Willison, Lynch, Buchanan, Thomson, O'Donnell, Brown.